Four villages have been emptied in Muse Township as fighting between Myanmar’s junta and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) continues in northern Shan State near the Chinese border.
Fighting intensified near Mount Loi Tay Mein on Tuesday as the junta conducted two airstrikes on TNLA targets.
Ta’ang (Palaung) residents and ethnic Shan communities from four villages were displaced due to the fighting, according to residents.
“We can hear gunfire and bombardments. Three Ta’ang villages and a Shan village have emptied due to the fighting,” a Sei Lant villager said.
Three Ta’ang villages near the battle zone were seized by TNLA troops, he added.
Sei Lant villagers are reportedly on high alert but continue to stay in their homes, around 1km from the battle zone.
“We don’t want to leave our village during harvest season. If we leave, we will lose everything and our village will be taken over,” a villager said.
Sei Lant’s high school closed shortly after reopening four days ago, according to villagers.
At least 500 residents were displaced in Sei Lant village tract due to the fighting in early August.
Muse residents said they heard shelling from troops based near Muse’s trade zone on Monday.
TLNA reported that at least 15 clashes occurred in Muse, Kutkai and Lashio townships in August as junta infantry and their militia allies entered its territory.
Junta troops suffered casualties during the clashes, according to the TLNA.
The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports.
The regime’s Light Infantry Division 99 has clashed with TNLA troops near Kho Mone village between Muse and Kutkai since Monday, according to the TNLA.
On Sunday, fighting broke out between Hpar Hpeik and Nam Tawng villages in Muse Township.
TNLA also ambushed a junta convoy of around 20 trucks traveling from Kutkai to Thenni townships on Saturday.
